Apparatus for receiving incandescent coke

ABSTRACT

To decrease a loss of coke due to burning and to prolong the service life of an apparatus for receiving incandescent coke and conveying the same to a quenching tower, between a wall structure (1) and lining plates (2) there is disposed a spacing member in the form of corrugated sheets (12), and the lining plates (2) are mounted with the provision for linear expansion under the action of heat from incandescent coke and connected to the wall structure (1) by means of cover pieces (13) overlapping temperature gaps, bolts (14) and nuts (15). Bottom gates (7) of a hopper (5) are provided with sealing members (18) having a surface (A) and (B) contacting the round surface of a girdle (6) tangentially. Specific embodiments of spacing members, sealing members and locking means are described.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the processing equipment employed inthe production of coke and is specifically concerned with an apparatusfor receiving incandescent coke and then carrying the same from a cokingchamber to a quenching site. The invention may prove most advantageousat the coking plants where the dry coke-quenching technique is used.

BACKGROUND ART

At coking plants, incandescent coke is conveyed from a coking chamber toa quenching site mainly in cars adapted to travel along a rail track(Tep/litskiy N. G. et al. Sukhoe tushenie koksa (Dry quenching of coke),"Metallurgiya" Publishers, Moscow, 1971, p. 53). Such cars comprise acarriage and an apparatus for receiving incandescent coke removablymounted on the carriage. The apparatus for receiving incandescent cokeincludes a wall structure which is a truss framework and lining platesmounted on the supporting members of the truss framework. Employed forlining the wall structure are either rolled nickeliferrous-steel platesor cast heat-resistant iron plates. The lining plates are installed withthe provision for their linear expansion, i.e. with a gap or clearanceto ensure such an expansion (Kostin N. P., Lichinskiy A. P.,Modernizatsiya vagonov dlya perevozki raskalyonnogo koksa ustanovoksukhogo tushenia, i.e., Modernization of cars for conveying incandescentcoke at dry-quenching plants, "Koks i khimiya" Publishers, 1975, No. 4,p. 41). A convenient apparatus for receiving incandescent coke comprisesalso a hopper defined by the bottom portion of the wall structure, whichhopper has a discharge hole and is framed adjacent to said hole by agirdle. To close said discharge hole, the hopper is provided with bottomgates which normally abut against the girdle.

In prior art apparatus, an active combustion of coke takes place duringits loading and transportation, leading to a loss of coke and to a rapidheating of the lining plates and the wall structure, which results in apremature deterioration of the latter. The burning is caused by airdraught or inleakage through the gaps between the lining plates.

In addition, in manufacturing the apparatus it is difficult to avoid anunstraightness of the girdle surfaces abutting on the bottom gates,which results in development of gaps in the zone of abutment of thegirdle on the gates; the gaps are further increased in the course ofservice due to a thermal warpage of the girdle, which additionallypromotes the air draught or inleakage through the gaps.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention has for its object to provide an apparatus forreceiving incandescent coke, wherein the coke loss by burning is cutdown and the maximum protection of the wall structure of the apparatusfrom the thermal effect of incandescent coke is ensured by means ofeliminating the gaps between the lining plates and in the zone ofabutment of the bottom gates to the discharge hole.

This object is attained by the provision of an apparatus for receivingincandescent coke and conveying the same from a coking chamber to aquenching site, comprising a wall structure which is lined with platesof a suitable material, installed so as to provide for a linearexpansion thereof, and defines at its bottom portion a hopper having adischarge hole and framed adjacent to the discharge hole by a girdle,and bottom gates to close said discharge hole, wherein, according to theinvention, the wall structure and the lining plates are installed in aspaced relationship to define a gap therebetween, the lining plates arejoined with one another and with the wall structure by locking means andspacing members, the girdle is round in cross-section, and the bottomgates are provided with sealing members having at least one sealingsurface disposed so that, with the bottom gates in the closed position,it contacts the girdle tangentially.

Such an apparatus enables the coke loss by burning to be cut down owingto elimination of the gaps between the lining plates and in the zone ofabutment of the bottom gates to the discharge hole, which is attainedwith the aid of the locking means mainly within the space defined by thelining plates; with the aid of the spacing members, outside said space;and with the aid of the sealing members, in the zone of abutment of thebottom gate to the hopper girdle. Moreover, eliminating the gaps andinterposing the spacing members between the lining plates and the wallstructure improves the thermal conditions of the wall structure inoperation of the apparatus, thereby reducing the thermal warpage andextending the service life of the structure.

Interposing a corrugated sheet as the spacing member between the liningplates and the wall structure promotes the heat transfer from the liningplates, thereby enhancing their durability and additionally reducing theheating of the wall structure.

For best results, the corrugated sheets are preferably installed so thattheir ends overlap each other at the joint. The spacing member may alsohave a through-shaped cross-section; this may be, e.g., a bent sheet ora rolled section.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the lining plates may beinstalled in a spaced relationship so as to define a gap therebetween,and to prevent air inleakage, each locking means is preferably made upof a cover piece and a bolt holding the cover piece on the lining platesat the gap therebetween, extending between the adjacent lining platesand through the wall structure, and axially locked from an axialdisplacement by a nut.

The spacing member and the locking means may be combined so that thespacing member is integral with the bolt and has an end face or ashoulder whereupon a lining plate is supported.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the lining platesmay be installed in an overlapping relationship; in this case, eachlocking means may preferably have the form of a hook secured to a liningplate and holding the plate in position with respect to the wallstructure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The exact nature of the invention will be clear from the followingdetailed description thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus of the invention mountedon a carriage, a part of the side wall structure and of the liningplates being shown;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus of theinvention as viewed on the end wall structure, a part of the end wallstructure being removed to show the components of the bottom gate;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the angular assemblyof the wall structure and lining plates;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the angular assembly of the wallstructure and lining plates wherefrom the structure extends;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI--VI in FIG. 1;

FIG 7 is a view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5, but representingan alternative modification of the spacing member;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 6, but representingan alternative assembly of the wall structure and lining plates;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5, but representinga yet another assembly of the wall, structure and lining plates;

FIG. 10 is a detailed diagrammatic view showing the region of abutmentof the bottom gate on the hopper girdle; and

FIGS. 11, 12, and 13 are views similar to that illustrated in FIG. 10,but representing further embodiments of the invention.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus of the present invention comprises awall structure 1 lined with plates 2 of a suitable material, such as aheat-resistant cast iron or heat-resistant steel. Such a wall structuregenerally includes side wall structures 3 and end wall structures 4.Also, the wall structure 1 defines at the bottom portion thereof ahopper 5 having a discharge hole and framed adjacent to the dischargehole with a girdle 6, as will be best seen in FIG. 3. The hopper 5 isprovided with bottom gates 7 serving to close the discharge hole inloading and to pass out the material in unloading. The wall structure 1jointly with the hopper portion defines the space for receivingincandescent coke and conveying the same from a coking chamber to aquenching site, for which purpose in this illustrative example theapparatus of the invention is placed onto a carriage 8 intended fortravel on a track. The apparatus is also equipped with conventionalmeans for lifting the entire apparatus, such means as guides 9 and pullrods 10, and the wall structure 1 also defines a coke-receiving chute11. To provide for linear expansion under the action of heat fromincandescent coke, the plates 2 are mounted with the provision for suchan expansion, the specific examples of installation of the plates beingdescribed hereinafter.

In accordance with the present invention the wall structure 1 and thelining plates 2 are installed in a spaced relationship to define a gaptherebetween, which is attained with the use of spacing members, such ascorrugated sheets 12. As will be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4-6, and 9 of theaccompanying drawings (in FIGS. 3 and 10-13, the spacing members are notshown for simplicity of representation), the corrugated sheets 12 areinterposed between the wall structure 1 and the lining plates 2, theends of the corrugated sheets overlapping at the joints. FIGS. 1, 2,4-7, and 9 show that the corrugated sheets 12 are installed in a spacedrelationship to define a gap therebetween; with this arrangement, it isexpedient to fasten the lining plates 2 to the wall structure 1 with theuse of a locking means comprising a cover piece 13 and a bolt 14 holdingthe cover piece 13 on the lining plates 2 at the gap therebetween. Aswill be seen in the drawings, and more specifically in FIG. 6, the bolt14 extends between the adjacent lining plates 2 through the corrugatedsheet 12 and further through the wall structure 1. To prevent the bolt14 from an axial displacement, the entire assembly is held by a nut 15.This arrangement makes thus possible the linear expansion of the liningplates 2, ensuring at the same time an adequate tightness of the joint.

As shown in FIG. 3 and in greater detail in FIG. 10, the girdle 6 of thehopper 5 is of a round cross-section; this embodiment of the inventioncomprises the girdle 6 fabricated from an appropriate tubing, and thebottom gates 7 are weldments turnable around hinge pins 16 in hinges 17secured to the wall structure 1 adjacent to the discharge hole of thehopper 15. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thebottom gates 7 are lined in the same manner as in the entire wallstructure 1. In accordance with the inventive concept the gates 7 areprovided with sealing members 18 formed by horizontal panels 19 and anangle section 20 and having an inclined sealing surface A (FIG. 10)which, with the bottom gates in the closed position, contacts thesurface of the girdle 6 tangentially and a sealing surface B whichcontacts the surface of the girdle 6 tangentially as well. The sealingmembers 18 are disposed above the level of the lining plates of the wallstructure 1, which ensures a more dependable closing of the gates 7 andisolation of the sealing members 18 from the thermal effect ofincandescent coke.

The bottom gates 7 are operated with the aid of linking members 21hinge-connected to the bottom gates by means of hinge pins 22, thelinking members 21 being in their turn hinge-connected to the pull rods10 for lifting the whole apparatus to a quenching tower. The bottomgates 7 open by themselves after the apparatus of the invention has beenplaced by its supports 23 on pedestals (not shown) of the quenchingtower.

In operation, the apparatus of the invention is loaded with incandescentcoke. Heat causes the lining plates 2 to expand, but uncontrollable gapsremain therebetween; the gaps, however, exert no effect on theconditions of coke combustion, i.e. do not promote the latter, and hencethe coke loss by burning is cut down as compared to the prior art. Theair draught or inleakage is prevented owing to the provision of thecover pieces 13, while a free linear thermal expansion of the liningplates 2 is ensured due to a non-rigid fastening of the lining plates 2by cover pieces 13 and to the provision of slots 24 at the edges ofplates 2 and of holes 25 in the corrugated sheets 12. The corrugatedsheet 12 prevents the heat transfer from incandescent coke to the wallstructure 1 and also promotes the heat transfer from the lining to theambient atmosphere, while the bottom gates 7, owing to the sealingmembers 18 abutting on the surfaces of revolution of the girdle 6,restrict the access of air into the hopper 5.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, various modifications may be made in the above-describedarrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as disclosed in the following examples.

The lining plates 2 in the angular assembly of the apparatus of theinvention are fastened by means of L-shaped cover pieces 26 and of theflat cover pieces 13, as shown in FIG. 4, while the lining plates 2 inthe transitions of the wall structure 1 to the hopper 5 are arranged sothat their edges overlap each other, as shown in FIG. 5. It will beclear to those skilled in the art that such modifications of the cornertransitions may be mutually interchanged or that either one of themodifications may be employed for both corner transitions.

The fastening of the wall structure 1 and of the lining plate 2 may beaccomplished with the use of a locking means comprising a spacing membermade integral with the bolt 14 and having an end face or shoulder 27whereon the lining plate 2 is supported, as shown in FIG. 8. A similarbolt, i.e. a member serving as both a fastener and a spacer, may be usedin the modification of the fastening, shown in FIG. 6. Also, the spacingmember may have the form of a bushing put on the bolt 14; thismodification is not shown in the drawings, inasmuch as it will beapparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the abovedisclosure. The spacing member may also have a trough-shapedcross-section, e.g., such one as illustrated in FIG. 7 where a rolledU-section is shown. It will be seen in this Figure that a heat-resistantmaterial, such as asbestos gaskets, may be employed in addition to thespacing member. Even the gaskets proper of such a material may be usedas the spacing members.

FIG. 9 illustrates a still another alternative modification of thelocking means, which is a hook 28 secured, as by welding, to the liningplate 2 and holding the plate in position with respect to the wallstructure 1, the lining plates 2 being installed in an overlappingrelationship. In this modification of the fastening, the predeterminedgap between the wall structure 1 and the lining plates 2 is maintainedwith the use of the spacing members in the form of the corrugated sheets12, although any other of the above-described and equivalent spacingmembers may be installed without contradicting the inventive concept.

The sealing member in accordance with the present invention may haveeither one flat sealing surface (FIG. 11), or one concave sealingsurface whose radius of curvature somewhat exceeds that of the surfaceof the girdle 6 (FIG. 13), or a plurality of the sealing surfaces, suchas three flat ones (FIG. 12), all such surfaces contacting the surfaceof the girdle 6 tangentially. It should also be noted that the coverpieces 13 are preferably made of the same material as are the liningplates 2.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The apparatus for receiving incandescent coke is used to best advantageat the coking plants where the dry coke-quenching technique is used.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus for receiving incandescent coke and conveyingthe same from a coking chamber to a quenching site, comprising a wallstructure which is lined with plates of a suitable material, installedso as to provide for a linear expansion thereof, and which defines atits bottom portion a hopper having a discharge hole, a girdle extendingsubstantially circumferentially around the discharge hole, and bottomgates movable between an opened and closed position with respect to saiddischarge hole, characterized in that the wall structure and the liningplates are installed in a mutually spaced relationship to define a gaptherebetween, the lining plates are joined with one another and with thewall structure by locking means and spacing members, the girdle beinground in cross-section, and wherein the bottom gates are provided withsealing members which are fixed thereto for movement therewith, saidsealing members having at least one sealing surface disposed so that,with the bottom gates in the closed position covering said dischargehole, said at least one sealing surface contacts said girdle extendingtangentially with respect thereto.
 2. An apparatus in accordance withclaim 1, characterized in that each spacing member is a corrugatedsheet.
 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, characterized in thatthe ends of the corrugated sheets overlap at the joints thereof.
 4. Anapparatus in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that eachspacing member is of a trough-shaped cross-section.
 5. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, characterized in that the lining plates areinstalled in a spaced relationship to define a gap therebetween and eachlocking means comprises a cover piece and a bolt holding said coverpiece on the lining plates at the gap therebetween, passed between theadjacent lining plates, and locked against axial displacement by a nut.6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, characterized in that saidlocking means and spacing members are combined and comprise a bolthaving an end face or a shoulder whereon a lining plate is supported. 7.An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that eachlocking means is a hook secured to the lining plate and holding saidplate in the preset position with respect to the wall structure, thelining plates being installed in an overlapping relationship.